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Past Issues
Editor's note: A reminder to readers that beginning with the September 10 issue, Brief will be delivered to all employees in an e-mail format. This change is part of a larger communications redesign effort that will provide improved access to information for all faculty and staff (see the summer 2003 issue of Kiosk at www.umn.edu/urelate/kiosk for details). We are committed to ensuring that employees without regular access to e-mail will continue to receive the information provided in Brief. We have been working with departments on this issue. If you are an employee without regular e-mail access, check with your supervisor about how you will receive Brief. Contact editor Jason Sanford at sanfo012@umn.edu or 612-624-8520 if you have any questions.
The U has once again brought in more than half a billion dollars in research grants during the past fiscal year—a total of $512 million. The figure was down slightly from the previous year, mostly caused by a delay in grant awards this year by the federal government. In addition, for the third consecutive year, a University of Florida report ranks the U as one of the top three public research universities in the country. Over the past five years, the U has helped establish more than 35 start-up companies and now holds nearly 600 active technology transfer agreements with business and industry.
As part of the U's Campaign Minnesota, UMM has raised more than $9.5 million in private gifts from donors in the campus's first-ever comprehensive campaign, surpassing its original campaign goal by 160 percent. According to Maddy Maxeiner, associate vice chancellor for external relations, the campaign total includes more than $3.6 million for scholarships, $2.5 million for academic program support, and nearly $1.4 million for faculty and staff support. One million dollars from private agencies and foundations are also counted in the total. The total includes gifts, pledges, and bequests for both endowed and expendable funds.
Former Golden Gophers coach Herb Brooks died August 11 at age 66 in a car accident. During his seven-year tenure at Minnesota, Brooks led the Golden Gophers to three NCAA Championships in 1974, '76 and '79. He would later lead the 1980 United States Olympic hockey team to the gold medal against Finland after defeating the Soviet Union in the semifinals of the legendary "Miracle on Ice" game in Lake Placid, N.Y. A celebration in honor of his life and career will be held at one of the Gopher men's hockey games early in the season (details on the celebration will be announced soon).
Maroon and Gold Day at the Minnesota State Fair will be August 24. The jam-packed day will feature U trivia games on the University stage (outside the University building on Dan Patch Avenue) and fabulous prizes—including gift certificates from Famous Dave's Barbecue. Fair-goers can also join in the fun with the U's Legendary Barbecue Blues Band and catch the U's 300-piece marching band at the Maroon and Gold Day parade. For more information on these and other U-related State Fair events, see www.umn.edu/statefair.
From August 21 through September 1, parking on the campus in St. Paul will be limited during evenings and weekends due to the State Fair. During business days the campus will be open to vehicle traffic, but staff and faculty will need to carry their U Card IDs to enter parking facilities and gated areas. For more information on parking during the fair, see www.umn.edu/pts/maps/statefair.htm or call Parking and Transportation Services at 612-626-7275.
The first of two neutrino detectors at the U's Soudan Mine Underground Research Site has been completed. August 14 marked the official start of data-taking for the 6,000-ton Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search detector. In collaboration with the Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Chicago, researchers will use the detector to find a definitive answer about neutrino mass.
Seven U faculty were recently awarded grants through the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs' Faculty Interactive Research Program. The program encourages faculty to carry out research projects that involve a significant public policy issue and that include interaction with community groups, agencies, or organizations in Minnesota. Grant recipients include Terrie Rose, Amos Deinard, Ann Markusen, Jean King, Jeff Crump, William Arnold, and Kevin Krizek. For more information, see www.cura.umn.edu/whatnew/projects.html.
The Human Resources Employee Self-Service Web site now allows employees to administer their own direct deposit information. Employees can split their direct deposit between multiple bank accounts or among single or multiple financial institutions. For more information, select Direct Deposit from the pull-down menu at hrss.umn.edu.
CROOKSTON—William Grace, founder and executive director of the Center for Ethical Leadership in Seattle will be the featured keynote speaker during faculty and staff opening day activities on August 25, 9:30 a.m., in Brown Dining Room. Grace will also present a faculty and staff workshop on ethical leadership that day from
1:30–3:30 p.m. in room 245, UMC Library.
UMC and the city of Crookston sponsored the U Marching Band on August 16 for Crookston Ox Cart Days Torchlight Parade. The band then performed a post parade concert in downtown Crookston.
Jonathon Holland, varsity equestrian coach and teaching specialist for UMC's Equine Industries Management program, recently competed at the 45th Annual Canadian National Appaloosa Horse Show in Brandon, Manitoba. Holland earned the Canadian National Champion Pleasure Driving and three-year-old Western Pleasure honors and was Reserve Canadian National Champion in the three-year-old Hunter Under Saddle class.
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DULUTH—Professor Emeritus Wendel Glick, who taught English at UMD from 1952 to 1968, died on July 19. Glick was internationally known as a scholar and editor of the writings of Thoreau. A gathering celebrating his life was held at UMD on July 22.
Associate Professor Patricia Dennis, head of the UMD Department of Theatre, has been elected secretary of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Inc. (USITT). USITT is an association of design, production, and technology professionals in the performing arts and entertainment industry with more than 3,500 members nationwide. Dennis took office July 1.
Glensheen Historic Estate is open daily for tours from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with Bedroom Slipper Tours held on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays starting at 4 p.m. For information, call 218-726-8910 or toll free 888-454-4536. Winter hours begin October 1.
MORRIS—In a budget-driven move, UMM will eliminate wrestling for men and women, effective with the 2004–05 academic year, and add the sport of women's swimming. "During this biennium we will continue to see the impact of recent state reductions in University operating budgets as we work to cut $1.5 million dollars from UMM's $26 million base budget," said Sandra Olson-Loy, vice chancellor for student affairs. "This difficult decision addresses the need to reduce expenditures while strengthening our core." For more information, see www.mrs.umn.edu/alumni/universityrelations/news
/current.php.
About 22 new faculty and administrative staff will join returning students, staff, and faculty for the 2003–04 academic year. Faculty returned to campus on August 11, and the opening convocation was held on August 15.
New Student Orientation runs August 21–24. Faculty, staff, and families are welcome to attend the UMM Community Picnic on the campus mall August 21, 5–6:30 p.m. In addition, the Student Activities Fair will be held August 24, 5–7 p.m., in the Food Service building. For a complete August 2003 schedule, see www.mrs.umn.edu/services
/acad_affairs/Aug03Schedule.html.
TWIN CITIES—To learn about upcoming changes to UPlan, the U's medical and dental plans, attend one of the following Employee Benefits information forums: August 20, 12:15–1:15 p.m., A.I. Johnson Great Room, McNamara Alumni Center; August 21, 12:30–1:30 p.m., 142 WBOB; August 27, 12:15–1:15 p.m., theater, St. Paul Student Center; August 29, 12:15–1:15 p.m., Cowles Auditorium, HHH Center. For more information, see www.umn.edu/ohr/eb.
Towering 25-foot-tall inflatable game pieces on a gameboard of Twin Cities streets are just one of the highlights of the upcoming Twin Cities Design Celebration (TCDC), which begins September 3. Produced by the U's Design Institute with support from Target Corporation, TCDC aims to turn the Twin Cities into Design Central U.S.A. For more information, see design.umn.edu.
U homecoming game and related activities have been moved to November 1 due to a potential conflict with Major League Baseball playoffs at the Metrodome. All homecoming festivities will be held the week of Oct. 27, culminating with the Gophers vs. Hoosiers matchup at the Metrodome on Saturday. The Gophers homecoming game was initially set for Oct. 18 against Michigan State.
All Appletalk and IPX routing will be removed from the Twin Cities campus network by August 28. For help or a special schedule contact appleipx@umn.edu. For more information, see www.umn.edu/oit/appleipx.
Joseph Konstan, associate professor of computer science and engineering, has just been elected chair of ACM SIGCHI, the 5,000-member professional society in the field of human-computer interaction.
Events: The College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture will host an exhibition of Helsinki's contemporary architecture, September 2–October 17. "Helsinki Contemporary Urban Architecture," exhibits more than 100 photographs taken by Finnish architectural photographer Jussi Tiainen. The exhibition will be in the CALA courtyard, Ralph Rapson Hall. The opening reception, which will be attended by Finnish Ambassador Jukka Valtasaari, will be September 11 from 5:30–7 p.m. For more information, call 612-624-7808.
Marjorie Savage, parent director at the U and author of the new book You're On Your Own (but I'm here if you need me) will offer parents advice on mentoring their children during the college years on August 28 at
1:30 p.m. and August 30 at 2 p.m. at the U of M Bookstore in Coffman Union. For more information, see www.bookstore.umn.edu.
See more Twin Cities events online at events.tc.umn.edu.
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